Wednesday, Dec 25 2024  

SERVICE TO MAN IS SERVICE TO GOD - 26 Nov 2012

What exactly is Seva? According to Swami, “It is the very essence of devotion, the very breath of a devotee, his very nature." This clearly shows that Swami himself is trying to tell us that Seva should become an integral part of our lives. Hence, through the phrase, ‘Service to man is Service to God’, He urges all of us to do seva. Seva is an act of selflessness, whereby, we go beyond the call of duty to put smiles on so many faces. We are all sparks of His Divinity; hence, by making someone happy, we are also making Swami happy. Every time we get an opportunity to serve mankind, we should not leave it, as every opportunity is a blessing. It is a golden opportunity where we get to please the Lord.

Let me share with you a personal experience of a Seva in which I was fortunate to participate in. It was held during my leadership camp in Madagui, a city located off Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, on the 7th of November this year. We had gone to a private, non-profitable Orphanage, where there were roughly about 45 orphans. Upon our arrival, the young children were so delighted to see us. As we got off the bus, we had made a human chain, through which, we passed down perishables such as rice, snacks and cleaning equipment from the bus to the Main hall. Then, we distributed the snacks and milk packets to the orphans. As some were blind, we had to feed them. We then spent some time playing with the young children and taught them some basic english. Soon, the older children came back from school and joined us in our activities. It became dark and the children started feeling hungry. We had brought most of the orphans to our resort for a scrumptious BBQ dinner. We then had performances and gave them gifts before they departed. As it was my first time in a orphanage, I really did not know what to expect. But, after seeing their living conditions and how they spend their lives, I am thankful for what I have. I am grateful to Swami for giving me this experience and allowing me to serve the less fortunate. This experience will be etched in my memory forever.

An ideal example, which is set for us to follow, is the Grama Seva which happens annually in Prashanthi Nilayam. The students travel to remote villages to provide the needy with food and clothing. This Seva is done with lots of love and gratitude for Swami and above all, they bring smile on many faces.

So, let us always continue to serve the Lord and remember that we are all His instruments. As Swami says, “Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray.”

JAI SAI RAM

Bro Vikhel
Group 4